''Hype'' is a 1981 album by singer

Robert Calvert Robert Newton Calvert (9 March 1945 – 14 August 1988) was a South African-United Kingdom, British writer, poet, and musician. He is principally known for his role as lyricist, performance poet and lead vocalist of the space rock band Hawkwind ...

, the former frontman of British space-rock band

Hawkwind Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...

. It is subtitled ''The Songs of Tom Mahler'' as a tie-in to Calvert's only published novel ''Hype'', the novel being a fictional account of the rise and death of a rock star. The musicians used for the recording include three members of the band Bethnal, whom Calvert befriended during their support slot on Hawkwind's 1977 UK tour.

Track listing

All songs written by

. #"Over My Head" - 3:11 #"Ambitious" - 3:37 #"It's the Same" - 2:40 #"Hanging Out On the Seafront" - 3:46 #"Sensitive" - 3:37 #"Evil Rock" - 4:39 #"We Like to Be Frightened" - 2:59 #"Teen Ballad of Deano" - 3:01 #"Flight 105" - 3:53 #"The Luminous Green Glow of the Dials of the Dashboard (At Night)" - 3:52 #"Greenfly and the Rose" - 3:51 #"Lord of the Hornets" - 3:58 ;Bonus Tracks: #"Over My Head" (different lyrics) #"Flight 105" (instrumental) #"Hanging Out On the Seafront" (different lyrics) #"Lord of the Hornets" (different version)

Personnel

*Robert Calvert – lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, percussion *George Csapo – keyboards, violin, backing vocals *Nick Michaels – rhythm guitar *Pete Dowling – drums, electronic drums, percussion *

Trev Thoms Trevor Thoms (30 October 1950 – 8 December 2010), known as Judge Trev Thoms and Judge Trev, was a British guitarist, best known for being a member of Inner City Unit, Atomgods, and Steve Gibbons (musician)#Steve Gibbons Band, The Steve Gibbons ...

– lead guitar *

Nik Turner Nicholas Robert Turner (26 August 1940 – 10 November 2022) was an English musician best known as a member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner played saxophone and flute, as well as being a vocalist and composer. While with Hawkwind, Tur ...

– saxophone, backing vocals *

Michael Moorcock Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939) is an English writer, particularly of science fiction and fantasy, who has published a number of well-received literary novels as well as comic thrillers, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has wo ...

– 12-string guitar, backing vocals *Peter Pavli – cello *

Simon House Simon House (29 August 1948 – 25 May 2025) was an English composer and classically trained violinist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock band Hawkwind. Career Before his time with Hawkwind, House played in H ...

– keyboards, violin, backing vocals *Jaqui – "hold me tight" vocals on "We Like to Be Frightened"

Release history

*September 1981 – UK – A-Side Records (IF0311) vinyl *September 1989 – UK –

See For Miles Records See for Miles Records (SFM) was a British record label that specialised in reissuing rock classics. It was one of the first British re-issue specialists predating the emergence of compact discs. See for Miles reissued "oldies", including most of ...

(SEECD 278) vinyl and CD *August 2003 – UK –

Voiceprint Records Voiceprint Records was a British independent record label based in England, founded in November 1990 by Rob Ayling. They specialised in re-releasing old material, especially progressive rock, but also had new releases, under the Resurgence and Bl ...

(VP261CD) CD – with bonus tracks

References

{{Authority control 1981 albums Robert Calvert albums